PH ‘most receptive’ market for secondhand goods, Carousell report says

Filipino consumers do not mind buying secondhand goods online, a recent report reveals.

According to the inaugural Carousell Recommerce Index (2021 report), the Philippines is the most receptive market for secondhand goods in the Greater Southeast Asian region.

What are the reasons behind this?

At least 74% of Filipino consumers prefer purchasing second-hand items due to their affordable, price while 72% have never bought a second-hand item. Those who have never bought a second-hand item said that having authentication and warranty of products will motivate them to buy these goods.

In the Southeast Asian region, consumers had an estimated 102,556 unwanted items at home that could be sold.

In the Philippines, 92% of consumers responded that they’ve bought second-hand items including unused and brand-new items by casual everyday sellers. This is considered the highest among all Carousell Group markets.

The report also shows that 58% of Filipino online consumers are most comfortable buying secondhand apparel, while 75% of Filipino merchants choose to sell secondhand apparel.

In the Philippines, it is one of the markets that had the most users forecasting 100 unwanted items to sell. They tied with Hong Kong in third place for the highest average items per user at 43 unwanted items.

Consumers who also sell second-hand items estimate their earnings between P2,501 to P5,000. There is a percentage of 11% who believed they could earn more than P35,000.

The report, a Carousell Green initiative that highlights the importance of sustainability and recommerce in the region, is part of several programs organized by Carousell Group.

Recommerce refers to the selling and buying of previously-owned products, including both new and used in condition.

“Recommerce offers the second-best sustainable option by extending the life cycle of each garment and material, keeping it out of landfills, and replacing the need to produce new items, and limiting consumption,” said Ralph Garcia, Country MarketingHead, Carousell Philippines.

Garcia added that the pandemic has changed consumer behavior in the past months that they decided to come up with the Carousell Recommerce Index to find out where the company is heading and how to better understand the Filipino consumer’s attitude towards second-hand items.